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I find this terribly comical, simply because of the absurdity.

Back in 1999, the french banned the word "fax" and replaced it with "telecopie". However, the french folks I met in New Zealand had no idea about this. What makes this even worse, is that fax is derived from facsimile, which is latin in origin...just like French.

Quite honestly, what have the french done lately that is of any merit? Not much good science or technology has emerged from France in the 20th or 21st centuries. Camus and Sartre? Do college students even read existentialism any more? Existentialism, a comic footnote in the pages of philosophy.

Frankly, no-one really cares, and I understand that. But these repeated news stories of banned words just keep showing up, like an aged actress trying to generate PR. Really, there is one appropriate response to give to the French:
Prov 17:28
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding
KJV

DrTorch Wrote:Really, there is one appropriate response to give to the French:

Prov 17:28
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding
KJV

Isn't that pretty much the same advice Chirac gave the leaders of Eastern Europe back in the spring?

As for recent French achievements, as much as I might like to agree with you, it's worth mentioning brie (of course!), any number of decent red wines, and Isabelle Adjani. They also do a great job of hosting the Tour and the 1998 World Cup.

Not to mention that whole Statue of Liberty thing...

Oddball Wrote:Not to mention that whole Statue of Liberty thing...

And freedom fries.

Speaking of spuds, they also gave us spud-ugly actor Gerard Depardieu. :rolleyes:

And irony of ironies, the English language they are so loath to allow into their beloved French is made up primarily of bastardizations of German and French. Guess they don't want the liguistic drift to flow back the other way and swamp them. :rolleyes:

Today's merde is yesterday's fromage?

Karl Wrote:And irony of ironies, the English language they are so loath to allow into their beloved French is made up primarily of bastardizations of German and French.&nbsp; Guess they don't want the liguistic drift to flow back the other way and swamp them. :rolleyes:

pre

we should ban all such words from our beautiful English language

Quote:On February 6, 1778, France and the fledgling United States of America signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the Treaty of Alliance in Paris, France. The Treaty of Amity and Commerce recognized the United States as an independent nation and promoted trade between France and the United States. The Treaty of Alliance created a military alliance against Great Britain, stipulating American independence as a condition of peace. The treaty also required France and the U.S. to concur in any peace agreement.

What does a little thing like helping us secure our freedom matter when you compare it to them not believing our evidence about WMD? Darn frog lover!

Before you get too far down this road, I just want to remind you that most frogs are GREEN.

DrTorch Wrote:Do college students even read existentialism any more? Existentialism, a comic footnote in the pages of philosophy.

Ahhhhh, Kafka........

DevilGrad Wrote:Before you get too far down this road, I just want to remind you that most frogs are GREEN.

Green sucks.

DevilGrad Wrote:Before you get too far down this road, I just want to remind you that most frogs are GREEN.

With envy??